Natural Resource Management Specialist

Title: Natural Resource Management Specialist

Programme: Transboundary Landscapes (ICIMOD Afghanistan Office)

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Background

The International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) is a regional intergovernmental learning and knowledge sharing centre serving the eight regional member countries of the Hindu Kush Himalayan (HKH) region – Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, China, India, Myanmar, Nepal, and Pakistan. Our aim is to influence policy and practices to meet environmental and livelihood challenges emerging in the HKH region. To do this we bring together researchers, practitioners, and policy makers from the region and around the globe to generate and share knowledge, support evidence-based decision making, and encourage regional collaboration. ICIMOD delivers impact through its six Regional Programmes of Adaptation to Change, Transboundary Landscapes, River Basins, Cryosphere and Atmosphere, Mountain Environment Regional Information System, and Himalayan University Consortium (emerging). These regional programmes are supported by the four Thematic Areas of Livelihoods, Ecosystem Services, Water and Air, and Geospatial Solutions and underpinned by Knowledge Management and Communication. ICIMOD seeks to improve the lives and livelihoods of mountain women and men, now and for the future.

The Regional Programmes provide platforms for delivering results, promote integrative research approaches that are policy-relevant, and achieve impacts. For the Regional Programme on ‘Transboundary Landscapes’, ICIMOD and its partners have identified seven critical transboundary landscapes in the HKH region as potential areas for piloting the regional approach in conservation, management and cooperation. These landscapes include the Wakhan-Corridor, Karakoram-Pamir, Kailash, Everest, Kangchenjunga, Brahmaputra-Salween, and Cherrapunjee-Chittagong. The position of Natural Resource Management Specialist focuses on the Wakhan-Corridor Landscape while closely working with other six landscape initiatives. The Wakhan-Corridor Landscape is shared by four countries, namely, Afghanistan, China, Pakistan, and Tajikistan.

Responsibilities and tasks

Under the direct supervision of the Programme Manager of Transboundary Landscapes and the overall guidance of the Director of Programme Operations, the Natural Resource Management Specialist will:

• take the management responsibility for the Wakhan-Corridor Landscape initiative as ‘Initiative Coordinator’ including designing, implementing, monitoring, and reporting on the landscape with a clear impact-orientation;
• coordinate with, and develop partnerships among, major institutions and stakeholders in the landscape;
• design and conduct regional workshops, seminars, and trainings;
• align the work of the Wakhan-Corridor Landscape initiative with other transboundary landscape initiatives of ICIMOD and become an active member of the Transboundary Landscape Programme who works closely with the Programme Manager;
• promote integrated action research to generate information and address conservation and development issues through support and inputs from the Thematic Leaders and relevant Regional Programmes;
• integrate a livelihoods approach as part of the conservation and management of natural resources, particularly biodiversity, in the landscape;
• integrate the cross-cutting issues of gender and governance; engage in multi-stakeholder dialogue; and include the private sector in programme design and delivery for the Wakhan-Corridor Landscape initiative;
• take an active role in developing other technical programmes for Afghanistan while working closely with staff based in ICIMOD’s Kabul Office; and
• liaise with the governments of the countries sharing the Wakhan-Corridor Landscape, particularly with the Government of Afghanistan, with overall guidance from ICIMOD headquarters in Kathmandu, and keep regular contact and communicate with the Afghanistan Focal Point at ICIMOD’s headquarters. The position will also be responsible to contribute to Karakoram-Pamir Landscape which is adjoining to Wakhan-Corridor.

Minimum Qualifications

Candidates should have the following qualifications and experience:

• an advanced post-graduate academic degree, preferably a PhD, in natural resources management, ecology, environmental studies, or other related field; 
• at least five years of substantial work and solid field experience in the area of natural resources management, of which preferably a part has been gained in Afghanistan and other parts of the Hindu Kush Himalayan region;
• experience with the management and piloting of research and development projects; and
• experience working with regional and international organizations.

Competencies

Candidates should have the following skills and competencies:

• Knowledge: State of the art knowledge on issues related to natural resource management and landscapes and the ability to represent ICIMOD in regional and international forums
• Management and coordination: The ability to plan and manage projects and initiatives at an operational level, including day-to-day financial management, task delegation and supervision, monitoring and evaluation
• Networking/stakeholder management: The ability to identify relevant partners, maintain existing linkages, effectively communicate with stakeholders on different levels, build capacity, and solve operational issues
• Communication and outreach: The ability to effectively present, explain, and discuss complex ideas, listen to and convince others, and integrate ideas from different people and sources
• Results/impact orientation: The ability to take a proactive approach within and outside the organisation to generate concrete results on an output level and to seek opportunities to transform output to outcomes
• Social/team competency: The ability to work effectively and smoothly within a team with intercultural sensitivity; manage minor team conflicts; and contribute to establishing commitment among team members
• Report and proposal writing: The ability to write and coordinate the preparation of project reports for different target groups and to contribute to successful proposal writing and development

Duty Station

ICIMOD Afghanistan Office, housed in the Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation and Livestock (MAIL), Kabul

Duration

The position will be for three years, of which the first six months will be probationary, with a possibility of extension subject to ICIMOD’s future funding levels.

Remuneration

The salary and benefits provided by ICIMOD are competitive with other regional organizations; remuneration will be commensurate with experience and qualifications.

Gender and Equity Policy

Qualified and eligible women candidates and those from disadvantaged backgrounds are highly encouraged to apply. ICIMOD implements a gender fair policy and is supportive of working women. It operates a Day-Care Centre at the campus and is committed to gender mainstreaming at the organisational and programmatic levels.

Method of application

Applicants are requested to apply online before 5 July 2013 through ICIMOD's online application system.

Only shortlisted candidates will be notified.